Psychosexual health significantly negatively predicts non-suicidal self-injury behaviors in college students, with adult attachment and social support serving as mediating pathways between them.
The prevalence of non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) behaviors among the college student sample was 12.53%.
Psychosexual health development (APDS) significantly negatively predicted non-suicidal self-injury behaviors.
Adult attachment (AAS) individually mediated the relationship between psychosexual health development and NSSI behaviors.
Social support (SSRS) individually mediated the relationship between psychosexual health development and NSSI behaviors.
The chained mediating effect of adult attachment and social support together between psychosexual health and NSSI was not statistically significant.
The study employed a mixed design with quantitative pretests and tracing post-tests to examine psychosexual health and NSSI.
This research suggests that how well young people develop a healthy understanding of their own psychosexual identity (encompassing emotional, psychological, and social aspects of sexual development) is meaningfully connected to whether they engage in non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) — behaviors like cutting or burning oneself without the intent to die. Among 1,193 Chinese vocational college students, about 1 in 8 (12.53%) reported engaging in NSSI behaviors. Students with better psychosexual health development were less likely to engage in NSSI. The study also found that this protective relationship works partly through two separate pathways: developing secure adult attachment (the ability to form healthy, trusting close relationships) and having stronger social support networks. Each of these factors individually helped explain why better psychosexual health was linked to less self-injury. However, the chain where psychosexual health leads to better attachment, which then leads to better social support, which then reduces NSSI, did not show a statistically significant effect when all steps were combined together. This research suggests that schools and educational programs could potentially reduce self-harm behaviors among adolescents by incorporating psychosexual health education into their curricula, with the idea that helping young people develop a healthy sense of their own identity and relationships could strengthen their attachment security and social connections — both of which appear to buffer against self-injury. The findings point toward early group-based prevention programs and psychological guidance as practical strategies for campuses looking to address NSSI in student populations.
Gao P, Zhang Y, Zhao M. (2025). Psychosexual health's impact on non-suicidal self-injury of college students.. Scientific reports. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-08900-8